The 2014/15 Bundesliga season commences this weekend on the back of a summer in which the national side claimed their fourth World Cup crown.

Despite the off-season coverage being dominated by Die Mannschaft’s triumph, there has been plenty of summer transfer activity which has fans eagerly anticipating kick-off in what is Europe’s most watched league.

The key question most observers are interested in is if anyone can stop Bayern Munich’s recent dominance, while the emergence of several exciting youngsters will no doubt enhance the league’s growing reputation as Europe’s most exciting.

Champions Bayern Munich will be hoping it’s business as usual on the domestic front after the acquisition of star striker Robert Lewandowski (from Borussia Dortmund).

However preparations for the new season have been hampered by the news that Spanish midfielder Javi Martinez is out with a long-term-injury while Toni Kroos has been sold (to Real Madrid). This leaves Pep Guardiola somewhat short of cover in the centre of midfield, although they have signed Sebastian Rode (Eintracht Frankfurt) while Thiago Alcantara is expected to shrug off injury problems and break into the starting eleven.

The spine of the side in Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng, Phil Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Arjen Robben, Franc Ribery and Thomas Mueller are still there, meaning it is very hard to see any other side (apart from Dortmund potentially) toppling their supremacy as the Bavarians look to secure their third-successive league crown.

Seemingly everyone’s second favourite team, Borussia Dortmund, will look to rebound from the loss of Lewandowski and mount a more serious title challenge in their attempts to topple Bayern’s hegemony.

Italian striker Ciro Immobile (Torino) and Colombian attacker Adrian Ramos (Hertha Berlin) will be charged with replacing the Polish striker’s goalscoring exploits while the signing of 20-year-old German international Matthias Ginter (Freiburg) will provide much needed cover for a defence that struggled with injuries last term.

The return from injury of Ilkay Gundogan and Neven Subotic – who spent much of last campaign on the sidelines – is an additional boost. If BVB manage to retain their in-demand pairing of Mats Hummels and Marco Reus and manage without their former number nine, then Jurgen Klopp’s chargers may well push Bayern all the way in the title-race.

Jens Keller did exceptionally well to carry an injury-hampered Schalke side to third place last term and will be hoping that injury-free seasons for star players Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Julian Draxler and Jefferson Farfan will enable the Gelsenkirchen-based outfit to challenge the top two as long as possible.

The squad has been strengthened with the signings of German international Sidney Sam (Leverkusen) and Eric Chuopo-Moting (Mainz), the latter sure to provide much needed back-up to Huntelaar.

Youngsters Leon Goretzka and Max Meyer are two to keep an eye on while the presence of World Cup Winner Benedikt Howedes and the often-controversial Kevin-Prince Boateng should ensure the Blues consolidate their placing inside the top four.

New manager Roger Schmidt will look to keep Bayer Leverkusen within reach of the top of the table as long as possible. The signings of young Turkish attacker Hakan Calhanoglou as well as Swiss striker Josip Drmic from Hamburg and Nurnberg respectively should see them ease some of the goalscoring burden from Stefan Kiessling as well as filling in the gap left by the departed Sidney Sam.

The defence has also been boosted by Croatian Tin Jedvaj (Roma) and Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Schalke), who will be hoping to shrug off recent injury problems and return to the form that attracted the likes of Manchester United a few years back. Captain Simon Rolfes and German international Lars Bender should form a solid midfield partnership while youngster Julian Brandt is one to watch.

Wolfsburg will be hoping to go one better this time around and claim a Champions League spot this term after narrowly missing out on fourth place last season. Former Nurnberg coach Dieter Hecking has recruited well with Aaron Hunt (Werder Bremen) and Sebastian Jung (Eintracht Frankfurt) signing on while the forward line has been boosted with the signing of ex-Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner.

With the likes of Ivica Olic, Luiz Gustavo, Ivan Perisic, Max Arnold, Kevin de Bruyne and Ricardo Rodriguez on the books, the 2009 Champions will look to effectively manage their respective league and European commitments.

Lucian Favre’s Borussia Monchengladbach should do well despite the loss of influential playmaker Juan Arango (Mexico) and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona).

The club have managed to retain the services of World Cup winner Christoph Krammer while signing fringe international Andre Hahn (Augsburg), Ibrahima Traore (Stuttgart),US fullback Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Chelsea loanee Thorgen Hazard (brother of Eden) and Swiss keeper Yann Sommer (Basel). These additions along with established stars Max Kruse, Granit Xhaka and Patrick Herrmann have fans hoping for a top four challenge.

The departure of promising young manager Thomas Tuchel and an early European exit has many predicting a season of struggle for Mainz. Cameroonian hitman Eric Chuopo-Moting has also left for Schalke while veterans Bo Svensson and Zdenek Popesch are no longer at the club. Greek goalkeeper Stefanos Kapino (Panathinaikos), Chilean defender Gonzalo Jara (Notts Forest) and young Serb attacker Filip Duricic (loan from Benfica) are the major signings for the Carnival Club.

New Danish manager Kasper Hjulmand achieved success in Denmark with Nordsjaelland (where he won the league in 2012) but will need to adapt fast to his new surroundings if he wishes to survive in the Bundesliga.

Last season’s surprise packets Augsburg will be aiming to once again defy the critics despite the loss of star man Andre Hahn to Monchengladbach. Slovenian striker Tim Matavz has signed on board from PSV as has Serb striker Nikola Djurdjic and Brazilian Caiuby from the 2. Bundesliga.

Former Bayern midfielder Markus Feulner is another quality addition from Nurnberg as is young German forward Shawn Parker from Mainz while Dutch captain Paul Verhaegh and Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker form an impressive defensive partnership for the Bavarian based side.

Hoffenheim will be looking at maintaining their attacking quality of last season (only Bayern and Dortmund scored more goals) while also tightening a lacklustre defence (only Hamburg conceded more goals).

The club will hope that new signing Oliver Baumann (Freiburg) will be the answer to their long-standing issues in goals while Bosnian defender Ermin Bicakcic has signed up from relegated Braunschweig. Swiss midfielders Pirmin Schwegler (Frankfurt) and Steven Zuber (CSKA Moscow) are quality additions while Adam Szalai (Schalke) will provide more cover up front where Kevin Volland, Roberto Firmino and Anthony Modeste will be looking to bag double figures again.

Hannover endured a testing season last year after the resignation of coach Mirko Slomka during the winter break. Rookie Turkish coach Tayfun Korkat did well to maintain the side’s position in mid-table despite a poor away record. This season may prove to be tougher for the 40-year-old with the loss of several influential players in the retired club legend Steve Cherundolo, star players Szabolcs Huszti (China) and Miram Biram Diouf (Stoke), forward Didier Ya Konan (Middle East) and defender Sebastien Pocognoli (West Brom).

Japan midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake (Nurnberg) and Spanish striker Joselu (Hoffenheim via Frankfurt) are the main reinforcements for Korkat.

Capital city side Hertha Berlin will be looking at breaking into the top half of the table after safely finishing 11th last season on the back of promotion from the second tier.

However they have lost their most influential player of the past five seasons in Ramos (Dortmund). Ex-BVB striker Julian Schieber will be expected to fill his shoes and provide Jos Luhukay’s squad which much needed firepower. Notable other signings include veteran Dutch defender John Heitinga (from Fulham) and Swiss wideman Valentin Stocker (from Basel).

Werder Bremen have struggled in recent seasons with financial difficulties and Robin Dutt’s men are not expected to challenge for European places once again this season.

Veteran Aaron Hunt ended his 13-year association with the club while Bosnian midfielder Izet Hajrovic is the only main addition to the squad after joining from Galatasaray.

Spanish centre-half Alex Galvez has signed on board as well with much to be expected from the likes of Ludovic Obraniak, Eljero Elia and Nils Petersen to steer the club away from the relegation scrapheap.

Former Bremen manager Thomas Schaaf embarks on his first campaign as Eintracht Frankfurt coach with the club hoping to crack into the top half of the ladder once again. The losses of key midfielders Rode (Bayern Munich), right back Jung (Wolfsburg), veteran Schwegler (Hoffenheim) and on-loan forward Joselu (Hannover) have hampered the squad.

However the recent arrivals of veteran striker Nelson Valdez, Swiss youngster Haris Seferovic and on-loan Chelsea whiz-kid Lucas Piazon will give them plenty of threat in attack while the midfield positions left vacant are expected to be filled by Japan captain Makato Hasebe (Nurnberg) and Serbian youngster Aleksandar Ignjovski (Bremen).

Christian Streich’s Freiburg have overachieved in the last few seasons and after struggling to manage the demands of domestic and European football last season, may once again find themselves in a relegation dogfight after the losses of Baumann (Hoffenheim) and Ginter (Dortmund).

Fans will be delighted to hear the news that the club has secured the services of Swiss striker Admir Mehmedi on a permanent basis – after he starred last campaign with 12 goals. Sascha Riether (Fulham) and Serbian defender Stefan Mitrovic (Benfica) are notable additions to the squad but despite this, much will depend on how well the enigmatic Streich can motivate his chargers.

2007 Champions Stuttgart were miserable last term in what was their worst season since gaining promotion to the top flight back in 1977. Dutch manager Huub Stevens resigned despite ensuring Bundesliga survival after being given the hot seat in March and this move prompted Sporting Director Fredi Bobic to lure back Armin Veh to the managerial position, six years after the championship winner left the post.

Spanish enforcer Oriol Romeu is the only major summer signing, arriving on loan from Chelsea with the goals of prolific Bosnian frontman Vedad Ibisevic once again tipped to be vital if the Reds wish to have a much improved season this time around.

Hamburg narrowly avoided relegation last term, via the play-offs, and in the process kept their proud record of being the only side to have played in every Bundesliga campaign intact.

The Red Shorts have in recent seasons been plagued by boardroom infighting and coaching instability with much onus to be placed on the shoulders of inspirational team captain Rafael van der Vaart to steer Mirko Slomka’s outfit away from a relegation battle. The permanent deals to last season’s top goalscorer Pierre-Michel Lasogga and former Arsenal man Johan Djourou as well as the addition of Swiss international Valon Behrami (Napoli) should see an improvement on last season.

Cologne returns to the Bundesliga after a two-year absence and as champions of the 2. Bundesliga.

The squad has been strengthened with the signings of Japan international Yuya Osaka (1860 Munich), on-loan Chelsea youngster Tomas Kalas and left-sided Slovak Dusan Svento (Red Bull Salzburg). Several players from their previous top flight campaign make up the core of the side while the goals of former Germany international Patrick Helmes and Nigerian striker Anthony Ujah are expected to keep the side up.

The other promoted side Paderborn are celebrating gaining elevation to the Bundesliga for the first time in their 107 year history. However a limited budget and little top flight experience means manager Andre Breitenreiter’s team are relegation favourites.

On-loan Dortmund youngster Marvin Ducksch and former Wolfsburg striker Stefan Kutschke are two notable additions to the squad while audiences should keep an eye out for Albanian attacker Alban Meha whose shooting accuracy